LAKE CHARLES, La. – Stellar pitching was on display for Lamar University softball on Friday as the Cardinals picked up two wins in their doubleheader against Niagara and North Dakota.
Karyana Mitchell provided five innings of scoreless relief to get the victory in the first game while
Emma Wardlaw pitched a nine-inning masterclass in a thriller to finish off the day.
Jayne Sepulveda (2 RBI) and
Cameron Niedenthal led the Cardinals with two hits in their 6-1 win against Niagara.
Veronica Harrison,
Trinity Brandon and
Kalie Amos each recorded an RBI while
Shenita Tucker crossed home plate twice.
Karyana Mitchell picked up her second win of the week on the mound for the Cardinals allowing just two hits with four strikeouts.
Makayla Valle started the game lasting two innings while allowing a run on three hits and two walks.
Brandon was the hero for the Cardinals against North Dakota as her two-run homer in the ninth was the difference in the game. Brandon, Harrison and
Makenzie Wright each recorded a pair of hits in the contest.
Emma Wardlaw put on an outstanding performance on the mound as she pitched a scoreless nine-inning complete game allowing just five hits and a walk while recording six strikeouts.
Game 1: LU 6, Niagara 1
LU got off to a flying start as three runs came around to score in the opening frame which included an RBI double from Brandon. The Purple Eagles would respond by loading the bases in the top of the second, but Valle was able to limit the damage to one.
After two innings of work, Mitchell came into the game for the Cardinals and was able to neutralize the Niagara lineup allowing just two baserunners over the final five innings. LU would tack on three more runs on sacrifice flies from Amos and Sepulveda to clinch the victory.
Game 2: LU 2, North Dakota 0
Both teams were able to get runners on base early on but failed to bring any home. Big Red loaded the bases in the top of the fourth with one out but struck out twice to end the frame.
The Cardinals would then go four innings without a baserunner as Wardlaw fended off the Fighting Hawk lineup to keep things scoreless. LU would finally break through in the top of the ninth as Brandon blasted a two-run homer to give the Cardinals the lead for good as Wardlaw finished things off in the bottom of the frame to seal the deal.
LU will play their home opener on Sunday with a doubleheader against Niagara with games at 1 and 3 p.m. at the LU Softball Complex.
